The Colombian government has agreed to suspend all military activity in an area in the north of Colombia to allow the release of three foreign and two Colombian hostages, held by rebel group ELN, W Radio reported Friday.
The signed agreement between the government, humanitarian aid organization Red Cross and peace advocacy group Colombians for peace includes a 36-hour suspension of military activity in the region in the south of the Bolivar department where the gold mine workers were abducted by the guerrillas.
MORE: ‘ELN’ kidnaps 3 foreigners, 2 Colombians in northern Colombia
The ELN and the humanitarian mission have not yet agreed on the date and location of the surrender of the hostages that was kidnapped last month.
Once guerrillas, Red Cross and Colombians for Peace have agreed on the date and location of the release, the military suspension will come to power and a humanitarian mission will move to pick up the hostages.
Earlier this week, the ELN announced to have already released the hostages, but this proved false.
MORE: ELN ‘released 5 hostages’ in north Colombia
Apart from the Canadian, two Peruvians and two Colombians, the ELN is holding two Germans hostage they accuse of being spies. According to W Radio, the release of these hostages is negotiated directly with representatives of the German government.